From the Newsroom

The swollen Clarence River moves slowly beneath the old Grafton Bridge on the afternoon of March 31. Image: Emma Pritchard

Flooded with concern for the second time in weeks

Emma Pritchard

 

For the second time in a month, significant rainfall was recorded throughout the Clarence Valley as a low-pressure system developed off the coast of NSW, resulting in further major flooding throughout the already saturated region last week.

Nervous and exhausted locals, including many who had recently been adversely affected by the severe wet weather which drenched the Northern Rivers in late February and early March, anxiously watched and waited as the situation developed.     

As the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) continuously revised their predicted forecasts, the State Emergency Service (SES) issued evacuation orders for residents in low lying areas including Southgate, Lawrence, Brushgrove, Cowper and Maclean on March 30 as the Clarence River continued to rise.

“Another flood is the last thing we want,” South Grafton resident Graeme Higgins told the Clarence Valley Independent.

The Grafton Rowing Club was flooded for the second time in four weeks. Image: Emma Pritchard

“The community doesn’t need further anxiety and more disruptions.

“We want the rain to stop falling and if it does flood again, let’s hope it’s not a big one.”

In Grafton, the Clarence River peaked at 5.6m on the Prince Street gauge shortly after 8am on March 31 with major flooding, lower than the predicted peak of 6.1m.

Downstream at Ulmarra, the Clarence River peaked near 4.46m with moderate flooding an hour later.

In Maclean, a morning high tide saw the Clarence River peak near 2.28m with moderate flooding on April 1.

The Clarence River in Grafton peaked at 5.6m on the Prince Street gauge in Grafton during the morning of March 31. Image: Emma Pritchard

Speaking with the Clarence Valley Independent over the weekend, Grafton resident Annette Leigh revealed she spent many sleepless nights worrying about her friends who live in low lying areas, and she was relieved when rainfall eased across the Clarence River catchment from March 29.  

“There are so many tired, anxious and emotionally traumatised people throughout the region, more rain and another flood were the last things we needed,” she said.

“I’m just so thankful this flood wasn’t as bad as the last one and my friends in Iluka are safe.

“I think everyone in the Clarence Valley is fed up with all this rain we keep getting.”

Along with major flooding, the persistent wet weather also saw some Clarence Valley locations record a substantial amount of rain.

The community of Baryulgil, 75km northwest of Grafton, recorded a new daily record when 100.6mm of rain fell on March 23.

It was the highest volume of rain recorded since 2017, when 85.2mm was recorded on March 31.

Elsewhere, Yamba recorded 717.8mm of rain during March while Grafton Airport recorded 283.6mm and Grafton Research Station recorded 348.6mm.

With further rain forecast across north-eastern NSW later this week, SES Public Information Officer for the Northern Zone Scott McLennan is encouraging Clarence Valley residents to remain vigilant and follow the latest weather warnings.

“The SES is watching the developing weather events and we will continue to provide updates to ensure our communities remain safe,” he said.